New METRO Maintenance of Way Facility to Improve Operational Efficiency & Resource Allocation
Located at 1507 Keene Street on the northeast quadrant of the IH 45 and IH 10 interchange, the new Maintenance of Way (MOW) facility will support the maintenance of METRORail vehicles, improve operational efficiency, enhance customer experience, and improve resource allocation. The 2.69 acres site will include a 30,000 sf main building, a 3,500 sf shop (located within the main building), a laydown yard, surface parking, and storm water detention. With such a constrained site, the building is oriented to accommodate the best access for heavy vehicle traffic, while also maximizing the space for laydown yards, staff parking, and warehouse storage. The new centralized location will provide a significant reduction in both the travel time and staging/preparation time necessary to complete maintenance or repairs.
The new MOW facility is designed to enhance operational efficiency by improving the response time, service delivery, and improve inventory control. The centralized location of the proposed new facility provides a significant reduction in both the travel time and staging/preparation time necessary to complete maintenance or repairs. Additionally, the project allows for near instant access to all required equipment and materials. The more centralized MOW also allows for greater inventory control since it will be physically housed in one location. Due to past theft issues, the new MOW facility will have adequate space to store valuable materials indoors.
Currently, employees are housed at multiple facilities throughout the service area and some of these facilities do not have the space for the additional staff. The new MOW will accommodate the entire team, allowing for both staff and supervisors to be on the same site, resulting in strengthened communication, coordination, and improved operational efficiency. The new MOW facility will also reinforce personnel safety by enabling a shift from manual loading of vehicles to using cranes and similar equipment made available on-site.